Do you believe in yourself? Discovering the power of Christ-centered confidence

I was at a school event recently and several speakers were encouraging children to have confidence and one in particular told them to repeat a very poignant affirmation that sucker punched me in the feels. I felt it in the form of a lump in my throat and I fought tears back in the way a soldier fights for his life (well it felt that way at least).

He told the children to look in the mirror before they leave for school each day and to tell themselves “I believe in me.”

Those words are so simple but they fell with weight as I studied the room filled with children with glimmers of light in their eyes and innocence I hope they never lose.

You see, we live in an area with socioeconomic challenges that force our children to go home to unhappiness. Many of them are experiencing childhoods riddled with domestic violence, abuse and unspeakable suffering that no child or person should ever have to endure.

And those words hit me to the core.

I’m always preaching and processing the value of the right words in the right moment as a PR practitioner. And I feel that heavily as I think of those children and what impact those words can have for them if they understand what they mean.

“I believe in me.”

What if no one has told them they believe in them? What if they will reach back to that moment someday and say that was when they realized they had to believe in themselves to rise above their situations and prosper?

And then it got real personal for me.

Do I believe in me?

What if I had believed in me at their age as an elementary school age child?

Talk about a moment.

I still have moments where I don’t believe in me. But then I think of my child. And I’m motivated. I want him to know he can do anything. Jesus will get him through anything and he can live fearlessly trusting in our Savior to guide Him.

I think it’s more important to live with less fear than to say you’re fearless. One is more true than the other and humanity is certainly a big part of that.

But I want to challenge you and me to take those words to heart and to repeat those positive kind affirmations to ourselves continuously.

I believe in me.

Why? Because I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). And GREATER is He who is in me, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

When I am afraid I remember God telling me to BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS like He told Joshua because He is always near (Joshua 1:9).

And when I fail, I remember that Gods mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and He knows my weaknesses and remembers I am human (Psalm 103:13-14). He has compassion on me and will forgive me (1 John 1:9).

What do you tell yourself each day?

Do you build yourself up in who God has called you to be and in who He is forming you into as you walk to become more like Christ (in sanctification each day)?

Do you believe in you?

The answer to that question is pivotal.

It will drive everything we do or don’t, our beliefs about ourselves and the world and even how well we can reach others for God.

Friend, don’t limit yourself. Put your faith in the Father and believe in your purpose through His perfect plan! May He guide you today and empower you to do great and mighty things!